Refrigerating machine



Feb. 5, 1929,;

ml m u 0 r n u. m bls n n I .m r .m \lfllilllllllllllil\\ l l lllllllllllllllllll I r h 2 C C. STEENSTRU-P PEfRIGERATING MACHINE Filed July 1927 Fig. 2.

HisATfor'ne Patented Feb. 5, 1929.-

uNl-Tsl) STATES CHRISTIAN BTEE I N' STBUP, 01' BOHENEC'I'ADY, N YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 GENERAL ELEC- 'I'BIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BEFBIGERATING- MACHINE.

Application filed July 5, 192?. fierial No. 203,301.

My invention relates to refrigerating machines and particularly to refrigerating machines of the domestic type having a float operated valve controlling the flow of refrigerant from a receptacle to the evaporator.

An object of my invention is the provision of improved valve-operating mechanism by which the removal of foreign matteron the valve or on the valve seat. is iacilitated.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a iragv mentary view of a refrigerating machine involving my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the float chamber and valve mechadrawn to a larger scale; and Fig. 3 shows the application of an attachment.

in the drawing the refrigerator box 1 has secured to the cover 2 thereof the eva orator 3, the refrigerant receptacle or float c amber 4 and the compressing and cooling unit 5. The chamber 4 l have shown as comprising the inverted cup-shaped casing ti secured in a gas-tight manner to the base i? by means oi the lugs 8 and the bolts 2. The lower portion of the chamber or that portion next to the liquid refrigerant therein preferably is sunk below the outer surface of the cover thereby to avoid a collection of frost. Gondensed refrigerant from the cooling coil 12 of unit enters the chamber 4 through pipe 13 and is discharged from that chamber into the evaporator through pipe 14. The passage of refrigerant from the float chamber into pipe 14 leading to the evaporator is controlled by the valve 15 which is opened and closed by the movement of the float 16 to which it is connected by the lever 17 Small particles of dirt or other fore1gn matter sometimes have caught on the valve seat or on the valve and prevented the valve from closing tightly, the material being pressed on the valve or valve seat all the more firmly by the eflort of the float to close the valve. I have found that by lifting the float so as to open the valve the refrigerant in blowing past the valve will carry away the obstruction. Accordingl I have rovided the construction now to 'descri ed by which the float may be raised and the valve opened if at any time the operation of the machine 17. The opposite ends of the guide rod are mounted respectively in the lower socket member 23 secured to the base 7 and in the upper socket member 24 secured in the top oi the casing 6. Near its lower end the guide rod has secured to it the disk 25 between which and the base 7 is the compression spring 26. This spring tends to raise the guide rod until disk 25 engages member 21 and then to raise both red and float to open the valve and thus render the float inoperative to close the valve. The guide rod is normally maintained in the lower position illustrated by the screw 28 threaded into the upper socket member 24 and in this position renders the spring 26 inoperative to affect the valve. The lower end of the screw 28 is made conical thus forming a valve which when the rod is held in its lowermost position engages a seat formed in the socket member 24 closing the opening in the socket member. As it is sometimes found desirable to omit the escape of gas, for example by ro en,

which may have accumulated in the oat chamber, the screw 28 constitutes a convenient means for this purpose, the process being commonly known in the a t as purging. To facilitate the escape of gas when the valve screw 28 is backed off its seat, I have shown the screw having a groove 29 cut through the threads and one side of the rod 20 flattened ofl at the upper end. Cap 30 covers the socket member 24 excluding dust and dirt.

In Fig. 3' I have shown an attachment which may be applied to the upper socket member 24 when it is desired to raise the valve from its seat without permitting any material escape of gas from the float chamber. This attachment comprises the member 33 adapted to be screw-threaded on the socket member 24 in place of the cap 30. It carries a rod 34 having a handle 35 at one end and an edge like that of a screw driver at the other end ada ted to turn the screw 28. Between the mem ers 33 and 24 and also where the rod 34 asses through the member 33, suitable With this attachment applied the screw 28 may be backed off sufficiently. to allow spring 26 to open valve 15 and be returnedagain to its original position with the escape of only that small quantity of gas contained by the attachment.

I have chosen the particular embodiment described above as illustrative of my invention and it will be apparent'that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,

of the casing for controlling said spring means, said last mentioned means in one position rendering the spring means inoperative and in another position permitting the spring means to render the float inoperative to close said valve.

2. In a refrigerating machine, a casing adapted to contain refrigerant, a valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant therefrom, a float in the casing connected to operate the valve, a movable guide rod for the float,

spring means for raising said float to render the same inoperative to close said valve, said means being controlled by said guide rod, and means operable from without the casing for varying the position of the guide rod, said guide rod in one position rendering the spring means inoperative and in another position permitting the spring means to renderthe float inoperative toclose said valve.

3. In a refrigerating machine, a casing adapted to contain refrigerant under pressure, a float, a valve operated thereby for controlling the flow of refrigerant, said casing having an opening therein, means extending through the opening and operable from the exterior for controlling the movement of said float, and a valve for normally closing said opening.

4. In a refrigerating machine, a casing adapted to contain refrigerant under pressure, a float therein, a valve connected to the float for controlling the flow of refrigerant from the casing, a movable guide rod for the float, a. spring controlled by the position of the guide rod for raising the float and'opening the valve, said casing having an opening for said guide rod and a valve for closing said opening and moving said guide rod.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of uly, 1927.

CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP.

warrant/HER l,70l,343.- Uhm'stian Steeatrup, Schenectady, N.- Y. REFRIGERA INQMACHINE.

Patent dated February 5, 1929., Disclaimerfiled March 1, 1932, by the assignee, General Electric Company. v

I-Iereby disclaims the subject matter of claim 3 of said patent except When the refrigerating machine thereof has a casing which 1s subject to the pressure on the high pressure side of said refrigerating maclune and the valve for normally closmg the opening in said casing is arranged to purge saidmaohme.

,[Oflicial Gazette March 22, 1932.] 

